Ahmedabad: A pharmacist and his associate, arrested by the Gujarat ATS earlier this year, had smuggled chemicals used in manufacturing the opioid fentanyl to Mexico in the name of “fish collagen peptides” and Vitamin B7, revealing India’s link to the highly addictive drug.

The two managed to smuggle the chemicals at least four times, though they were intercepted by US customs; on one occasion, a consignment reportedly reached an agent in Guatemala, an ATS investigation has revealed.

In the US, fentanyl is considered the “deadliest drug threat”. The synthetic opioid is reported to be 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.

The Gujarat ATS case is one of the few registered in India involving pharmaceutical firms smuggling fentanyl precursors. Officials said

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